Flow restrictor



Aug. l, 1950 J. w. CARLSON FLow REsTRIcToR Filed Nov. 5, 194e j @Ue/2257.; Lforz MQW-Son @a zc 2/ We Wi fg@ Patented Aug. l, 1950 NT OFFICE FLOW RESTRICTOR `.mini W. Carlson, chicago, 111.

Application November 5, 1946,` Serial No. 707,849

This invention relates 1in-general toiiow restrictors or discharge `devices which areparticularly adapted to restrict the flow of liquids `under pressure such as carbonated Water. l

Devices of this characterhave `been used `heretofore for dispensing carbonated liquids in many diilerent places such as soda l fountains and vending machines capable `of dispensing carbornated beverages. While the dischargedevce disfclosed herein is particularly `'adapted for use on such a carbonated beverage vending machine, it isby nomeans limited tcsuch use.

`It is the present practice in machines of this `character to maintain a Volume of 'saturated for substantially saturated aqueous solution of carbon 'dioxide to be dischargedinto a receptacle. This carbonated liquid is `maintained at a high pressure and usually fa low temperature. One of the problems which ispresented in dispensing a carbonated liquid is the necessity of discharging the solution from its high 'pressureto-atmospheric pressure fast enough for' practical purposes and yet slow enough to prevent excessive agitation and turbulence which results in aloss of gas irom`the liquid. "Furthermore, ne particles of foreign matter may become deposited in ordinary discharge devices tending to `clog the passages and thereby reduce the `eiiieierrcy thereof.`

It is common practice to employsome means for disrupting the impact of the issuing solution. Such means usually `includes a stationary member to receive the impact ofthe solution under pressure which distributes the liquid ina spray. This has been found to be unsatisfactory i'nactual practice not onlybecause of the highrate of gas loss, but also becausethe small .passage which distributes the solution"`in a spray has a tendency to become clogged dueto theinevitable presence of fine particlesdf foreign matter. `Such clogging necessitates removal of the device forfcleaIiing.`

In my present invention I have` been "able to overcome the variousdisadvantages, mentioned above by. providing a structure which willnot onlyretain a high gas content in the issuing solu.- tion but which also will be self-cleaning.` thereby avoiding any necessity `for complete removal of the device due to clogging. l

One of the principal` objects ofthe present invention is to provideadischarge `device for restricting `the flow of -la fluiddunder pressure, such as. carbonatedwater, whichmill minimizegas loss and `which has Seli-cleaningcharacteristics.

Another object is to provide allow restrictor for discharges duide sono carbonated water 2 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 45) 2 wherein the impact member against whichthe fluid flows is movable. l

A further object is to provide a ow restricn tor for discharging fluids such as carbonated Water wherein the impact member against which the fluid flows is movable under the pressure of the iiuid to form a restricted `opening which is self-cleaning and which eiectively reduces the velocity of flow Without an undue agitation or turbulence thereof.

Still another object is to provide a ilow restrictor for discharging fluids such as carbonated water wherein theimpact member against which the fluid ows is movable under the pressure of the fluid to forma restricted opening, whereby the initial discharge of fluid will have a cleaning effect thereon before the opening becomes fully restricted. l l

`A `still further object is to provide a simple `and eincient `flow restrictor `for discharging liquids under pressure such as carbonated water wherein a body is provided in two sections and spaced apart to provide a cavity within which an impact member may move under pressure of the incoming `liquid whereby the initial onrush of liquid Will clean or flush the cavity, after which the force of the liquid will -move the impact member to restrict the cavity and the iiow of liquid therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the ilow restrictor.;

Fig. 2 `is a longitudinal vertical section therethrough showingthe impact member in its normal position; and

Fig. 3is` a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the impact member in its restricted position under pressure of the incoming liquid. l

The flow restrictor of the present invention is `designed as a simplied form and as an improvement over the devices disclosed in the co-pending ,application Iof Ernest L. Wolf, `Serial No. 700,602, led October `2, 1946, and my `(zo-pendingapplication, Serial No. 707,850, `rlled November 5, 1946.

-Brieiiy described, Vthe present invention `consists of` abody portion preferably formed oftwo sections which are lso located as to provide a cavity therebetween and Within the body. One `section has aninlet and the other` is provided with an outlet, `each connected or forming a junction with the cavity. An impact member, preferably inthe formV of a circular disc, ismovably `mountunder pressure will flush the cavity, after which.

it becomes fully restricted and permits the liquid to flow therethrough with a minimum loss of gas.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and specically to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the main body of the device is composed of two sections, generally indicated by the numerals 2 and 4, which may be threadedly connected together as shown at 6. An annular gasket 8 is preferably7 disposed between the outer contacting surfaces of the two sections to thereby provide a seal against the loss of any liquid.

yWhen the two sections are connected together as shown, there will be provided a space or cavity I 0 between the two sections, which cavity may be said to be bounded at its edges by the inner surface I2 of the section 2 and at one side thereof by the inner surface I4 of the section 4 and at its other side by the inner surface I6 of the section 2 which extends at substantially right angles to the surface I2 thereof.

f The section 2 is provided with a threaded end I 8 for purposes of connection with a source of liquid supply under pressure, such as carbonated water. This end has an inwardly extending opening 2) to provide an inlet for the liquid. Within this inlet or opening 23, a tubular member 22 is located having its inner end substantially ush with the surface I '6 of the section 2. The tubular member 22 is provided with a plurality of axially extending spaced apart passages 24 to enable the incoming liquid to pass through the inlet 20 into the cavity IIJ.

A plunger or stem 26 extends inwardly through 'the tubular member 22 and at its inner end is threadedly engaged with or otherwise suitably secured to the impact member 28 which is of substantially the same configuration as the cavity I0'. If this cavity is circular, then the 'member 28 is also circular and is of a thickness substantially less than the height of the cavity ID. The diameter of the impact member 2li is slightly less than the width of the cavity so as to provide an annular space 30 between the impact member vand the inner surface I2 of the section 2.

The plunger 26 is provided at its outer end with a large head 32, and a coiled compression spring v34 surrounds the plunger 25, bearing at one end -against the under side of the head 32 and at its other end against the tubular member 22. Thus it will be evident that the force of the spring 34 will normally maintain the impact member against one side of the cavity I0 and preferably against the inlet side thereof. The section 4 of the body portion is provided with an elongated centrally disposed passage 35 which `rcomprises the outlet of the device. The inner end of the outlet connects with the opposite side of the cavity I 0 so that liquid under pressure from the inlet after movement of the impact member toward the opposite side, will be directed :to the outlet through the passage 30 and the Opposite side of the cavity ID.

' Itis, of course. necessary that some limiting means be provided to prevent the impact member from closing the outlet and 'for this purpose I provide a plurality of spaced apart stop members 36 in theform of elongated screws extending from the outer side of the section 4 through to the cavity I0. These stop members are adjustable in order to regulate the distance through which the impact member 28 moves. It will be noted that the inner ends of these stop members 36 extend beyond the inner surface of the section 4 and a short distance into the cavity I0.'

In the operation of the device, liquid such as carbonated water will be caused to flow through the inlet 2U and the passage 24 against the impact member 28. The initial surge of the incoming liquid will immediately force the impact member Atoward the opposite side of the cavity III, but

before the impact member has reached its maximum distance, some of the incoming liquid will have passed through the space 30 around the periphery of themember 28 and to the opposite side of the cavity I0 thus iiushing out the cavity and carrying away any foreign matter which might have become lodged therein. Immediately after this initial surge, the force of thev liquid 'will move the impactfmember against the ends of the stop members 36 to its position as shown in Figr. It `will thus be evident that the passage through which the liquid' passes has become restricted so that the liquid at this point .ows from the inlet through the passage 38 formed between the impact member and the inner surface It of the section 2, through the passage 30 and into the opposite side of the cavity I0 to the outlet 35. This manner of self-cleaning and restricting the flow of fluid is such as to maintain a high gas content within the liquid at all times.

Any suitable means can be provided for prop.. erly dispensing the liquid` from this device and one form illustrated herein'comprises a suitable spout 40 adapted to be received within the outlet 35, which spout` has a ring 42 secured `thereto provided with Aan annular shoulder 44 agaiinst which a lock nut 46 is adapted to bear. The lock -nut may .be threadedly secured as at 48 to a suitable-projection on the body section 4 to thus secure in place the spout 40.

By the use of the present invention it has been found in actual practice that the gas content of carbonatd liquids remains very high after dispensing, which is extremely radvantageous over devices of this charactr heretofor known. Furthermore, the service man in attending a bever- 'age vendingmachine Whereinthis device is used finds it seIdomnecessary to disassemble the device for cleaning purposes because of the eicent functioning of the self-cleaning characteristics thereof. t v' From the foregoing description it lwillbe evident that I have provided a, novel flow restrictor or discharge device particularly useful in ,the dispensing of carbonated uidsfrom a, vending machine orother dispensing apparatus, which deviceis self-cleaning, thus avoidingthe necessity for frequentdisassembly of the devicevby a'service man. N "y j x 'v 'It will be evident'that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof parts from those'disclosed ,herein without departing in any way from thel lspirit ofthe invenftion or sacrificing any of the attendant ladvantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall withinl the scope of fthe' claims appendedhereto.

' lHaving thus describedv my v'invention whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A self-cleaning carbonated liquid ow restrictor comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a cavity Within said body connecting said inlet and outlet, an impact member movably mounted within said cavity, and yieldable means normally holding said impact member against the inlet side of said cavity, whereby the initial surge of liquid from the inlet will have a flushing action, after which the impact member will be moved toward the outlet side of the cavity under pressure of the incoming liquid.

2. A self-cleaning carbonated liquid flow restrictor comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a cavity within said body connecting said inlet and outlet, an impact member movably mounted Within said cavity, yieldable means normally holding said impact member against one side of said cavity, whereby the initial surge of liquid from the inlet will flush the cavity, after which the impact member will be moved toward the opposite side of the cavity under pres- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 620,676 Sanderson et al. Mar. 7, 1899 736,754 Markel Aug. 18, 1903 780,986 Francis Jan. 31, 1905 824,425 Johnson June 26, 1906 1,278,187 Manning Sept. l0, 1918 1,587,849 Moore June 8, 1926 2,165,649 Parsons July 11, 1939 2,364,820 Rosander Dec. 12, 1944 

